This is the story of Lazarus of Bethany, told through tale and tribulation.*Darkness.Nothing.There was a void in the world around him, without light or sound.A heaviness weighed on Lazarus’ soul as he grasped for being. He sensed in the darkness there had been light only moments before but he could not grasp what that light was.Suddenly he felt a pulse in his chest. Something heavy held his body firm. Memories flooded through his mind of heat, cattle… family. Where are my sisters? What has happened to me? The world was somehow wrong.He tried to move but found he could not, could not raise the heaviness above him. He smelt earth.Then, with a thrust, he pushed his bound arms out of the cave soil he was buried in and braced them on the earth, using his weakened strength to pull upward. Earth caved in about him as he rose from his grave, his arms and legs bound with bandages. There was a cloth over his face he could not remove. He saw a faint light before him through the cloth.“Lazarus, come out,” a voice beckoned.He walked slowly in his bandages toward the light and could feel a warm breeze move about him. The sun radiated in the cloth over his eyes.“Unbind him, and let him go,” the voice returned.He felt coarse hands on his arms as bandages were unwrapped from him. Coolness came over his skin where they had been. Lazarus breathed heavily, unsure of what was happening. He had a vague memory of being sick before this. He was barely aware of who he was.The cloth over his face was pulled away and he squinted as sunlight blinded him. A bearded man with long wavy hair stood in the light. Jesus, he thought in disbelief as the man approached, placing his palm on Lazarus’ forehead.“You are healed, brother,” Jesus told him as Lazarus’ sisters rushed to his side. “You are still needed in this world.” There was a crowd gathered beyond the cave’s entrance.“Brother…” Martha cried and kissed his cheek. Her soft hands grasped one of his. Tears streamed down her face. “What a blessing…”Mary had embraced him and was kneeling before Jesus now. “Thank you, Jesus. How could we doubt you are the son of God?”“Rise, sister,” Jesus told her. “There is no need to kneel for me. God’s grace is given freely. It is him who we should praise.”“And through you he has raised our brother from his tomb. We are forever in your debt.”Jesus took her hand and helped her to rise. “All I ask is your belief and your mouths to spread God’s word in the coming days. Our people will soon face days when believing is much harder than it is now. But come, let us rejoice in what God has done.” He turned to Lazarus, embracing him. Lazarus felt the warmth of the man and felt his sense of confusion change to a feeling of peace. When Jesus pulled his arms away Lazarus walked out into the sun, through the awestruck crowd toward his home.A sheep baaed as he passed. He opened the front door to his home and headed to his room, lying down on his straw bed, closing his eyes and giving in to darkness and rest.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Scott adds a context around the existing scriptures that helped me to think about what it would be like to be Lazarus... the danger, the fear, the uncertainty about being given a second chance." - Julie Van Meter, author of A Beautiful Gift

"This book takes us through the events after Lazarus' rising from the grave and his feelings of being lost, disoriented perhaps. This brings a very human aspect to the miracle." - CMTStibbe, author of Chasing Pharaohs

From the Author

Lazarus of Bethany has always fascinated me. When I was young I remember hearing about Jesus raising Lazarus from the tomb and wanting to know how Lazarus felt, what his life was like after he was resurrected. After writing two Christianity based Fantasy novels I decided to use what we know of Lazarus, take that, and write what his life could have been like in the weeks following his resurrection. It is my hope to capture the humanity of the man here, and with that, the humanity in us all.

This book was written to inspire others and is dedicated both to God, for all he has taught and given me, and to an unborn child that I lost while Lazarus, Man was being written. I will always love that child dearly. God led Lazarus from his tomb. He leads us and lifts us through pain in our lives.

Top customer reviews

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I enjoyed this book. There were a few parts that left me hanging but I got over them quickly, as I followed Lazarus' life. I love books that bring the people in the Bible to life and make them real. I've often wondered what happened to Lazarus and what trials he faced, after Jesus brought him back from the dead. I thought this book captured the Man, Lazarus, and what he might have done with his life during the extra time he had. Although it ended abruptly, I was not annoyed and thought it fitting where the author left us during Lazarus' life...serving God through service to his fellow man. BRAVO!!!

This was a good book. The reason I gave it 4 out of 5 stars is because I was disappointed in the fact that throughout the book Lazarus, who was raised from the dead, was wanting to die and would commit suicide by not drinking water or by being around a leper. That being said, it is a novel and the writer is allowed to use creative liberties.

This was a hard novel to read, not because of the quality of the writing, that was excellent, but I just have a tough time with any portrayal of Christ's crucifixion, a scene that was portrayed fairly early in the novel. I grew up with a lot of sensitivity about that event, I'm not sure why, but it always bothered me to go to churches where the pastor/minister/reverend was constantly hammering away at the agony that He endured. While most of the congregation was apparently inured to this, I'd sit there crying and get the strangest looks.

I have a different upbringing as a metaphysical Christian, and the focus on suffering always leaves me with more questions than answers. Is there no purpose in life without suffering? That seemed to be the conclusion that Lazarus was being led to in the desert, when he was confronted with the starving and the sick. The strange way they disappeared after serving their purpose in his life makes me wonder even more. Does this imply that they were only part of the illusion that we are submerged in -- the "appearances" that Christ warns us not to be deceived by?

Lazarus's quest for meaning is a journey we can all relate to. This is a good novel, but I felt vaguely empty, even when he found his place of peace as a messenger of the gospel.

I enjoyed reading Lazarus,Man, but I think it is a little low on Biblical foundation. It was very entertaining, and the scenes of the resurrected Lazarus running from the ones who crucified Jesus certainly gave me pause for thought. The historical accuracy, though, was pretty hazy. Lazarus appears to muse about being buried in dirt, not entombed, and the scene where Mary washes the feet of Jesus is ensconced in Renaissance art.

I did like the emphasis on Lazarus' angst. I think that being brought back from the afterlife would be disturbing in some ways, and I think that this book shows that in a powerful way.

It's a worthwhile read, but don't count on too much biblical accuracy.

As I was reading this book it helped me understand that while we're busy searching for our purpose in life we might just be walking it and not even realize it.I didn't give it a 5 because it heavily infers that baptism by water is what saves us. Jesus saves us , not the baptism. Baptism is merely an act of faith to publicly show our obedience. It is not what saves .The book was still well written enough where if one can look past a doctrinal error in a novel it will make you think and possibly rethink the whole we've got to be someone doing something awesome in man's eyes to be walking in God's will.

Lazarus, Man is a very interesting book about what happens to Lazarus after he is raised from death by Jesus. I appreciated the "Why me, God?" message of the book that Lazarus struggles with. He is raised from the dead and is told that he will do great things, but Lazarus struggles with what God wants for him. It is a very compelling story of God's power and how He provides us with what we need to fulfill His plan for us.

First two-thirds of the book was excellent and then the author got sloppy or maybe tired of the project. Spoiler Alert: He has John the Apostle find Lazarus and they leave for Cyprus two weeks after the Resurrection. Not only that but they have a complete theology well before the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost with a certainty of all questions some of which were not answered for hundreds of years.

I'm not an avid reader of Religious Fiction, but Scott Toney's LAZARUS, MAN turned out to be such an exceptionally compelling book that I couldn't not enjoy it. The Author paints evocative images, tells his story in exquisite language, his flawless manner of writing making it even more entertaining. Well, it was definitely worth taking a look at this book, and I ended up just wanting for more after I got to the last page.